Parents told: use iPads to get reluctant boys to read

A study by the National Literacy Trust says tablet computers are a ‘vital new weapon’ to combat poor reading:

Jonathan Douglas, the trust’s director, said it was crucial “that we recognise the opportunities that technology brings for engaging boys and poorer children in reading”.
“Our research confirms that technology is playing a central role in young children’s vocabulary development,” he said. “Nearly all children have access to a touch-screen device at home and as technology advances and digital skills become increasingly important, we need to harness these developments to encourage children to become avid readers, whatever format they choose.”
The study – jointly carried out with the publisher Pearson – was based on a survey of more than 1,000 parents with young children combined with a poll of 567 early years workers. It also analysed the link between vocabulary and reading practices among 183 three- to five-year-olds.